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Dear Planning Department, Steve Otto Page 1 of 3 EXHIBIT J From: Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 7:40 PM To: Steve Otto Subject: Comments on PREV-712, Pamela Hardy/Ponderosa Homes for inclusion in the staff report Deaz Planning Department, I own one of the Ironwood Estate homes bordering this property and I have reviewed the plans and have been considering the impact of this development not only on myself (a resident of Pleasanton for 11 years), but on the local residential community and the city itself. I believe the plan does not show how the new development will mitigate the following: 1) Preservation of quarry view access and quality of life for the local community (achievable with the addition of a walking trail). 2) Preservation of housing values for the already built Ironwood Estates/Classics properties by providing sufficient setbacks to the new development, (which could include an access trail to the proposed quarry walking trail in (1) above). 3) Preservation of mountain views for both Ironwood residents and new residents of the proposed development (this could be achieved by limiting the number of and reasonably placing two-story units perhaps within the center of the development rather than along the perimeter). My main concern is that the development plan doesn't take into account the most precious land use attributes of this azea, the quarries and the surrounding mountain views. The quarry around which the proposed community will be developed is really a beautiful bird sanctuary. The only way to appreciate this is to look down Martin Avenue where the land on the quarry side has, so far, been preserved for walking. Many people walk this daily. It's one of the only places which resemble a park in the residential areas between Stoneridge, Valley, Santa Rita and the eastern borders at Ironwood. There has been no land planned or set aside for public use in this ever-expanding eastern region of Pleasanton. The Ironwood Estates blocks both passage and the view of the quarry lake. Development of the newly proposed, gated senior residential community would block these serene views forever. I feel that there is a need for a public trail azound the north end of the proposed development. All the residential communities in Pleasanton have public pazks. The prized pazks of Pleasanton aze one of its hallmazks. Why not create public access to trails around the quarry (North of the proposed development) so that our community can walk by the most beautiful feature of the area? Without a pazk for our kids or nice places to walk for the seniors, everyone will be meeting their neighbors out on the roadway instead of azound their neighborhoods. A walking trail which begins at the entrance to the proposed development and continues along the western border of the property to turn right along the north border could mitigate the need for a respectable setback for the present homeowners. Even if the access begins somewhere else neazby the quarry, the trail would preserve the quarry view for all local community residents.